Unit 50 50 (Pioneer)
High Pioneer peaks over broad sage valleys — a premier pronghorn unit with capped, quality elk
Central Idaho — Big Lost River / Pioneer Mountains (Custer, Blaine & Butte Counties) · Last reviewed 2026-07-12
Area
1,634
sq mi
Public land
80%
approx.
Elevation
5,500–12,000
feet
Motorized
moderate
access
Overview
Unit 50 straddles the Big Lost River drainage between Arco and Mackay, running from flat sage valleys and BLM foothills up into the granite spires of the Pioneer Mountains, including some of Idaho's highest ground. It carries strong pronghorn numbers on the open flats, mule deer in the foothills and high basins, and a well-managed elk herd hunted under capped Pioneer Zone tags. Moose and a handful of mountain goats round out the high country, and black bears are present but lightly harvested.
Terrain
Flat to rolling sage valleys and dry creek beds give way to steep, rugged mountains; milder pockets exist in Copper Basin and the Sawmill Creek bottoms, while the Pioneer crest rises above 12,000 ft near Hyndman Peak.
Cover: Big sagebrush and bunchgrass on the valley floor and foothills, aspen and Douglas-fir on mid slopes, spruce-fir and alpine tundra at timberline and above.
Landmarks: Pioneer Mountains · Hyndman Peak · Big Lost River · Copper Basin · Sawmill Creek · Trail Creek
Access
Most of the mountains sit in the Salmon-Challis National Forest and most foothills are BLM, giving broad public access; valley bottoms along the Big Lost River are private ranchland that must be worked around. Public-land share is approximate.
Managers: USFS — Salmon-Challis NF, USFS — Sawtooth NF, BLM, IDL
Access points: U.S. Highway 93 along the Big Lost River · Trail Creek Road from Ketchum · Copper Basin Road · Wildhorse Creek Road
Species notes
Pronghorn
common qualityOne of the unit's standout hunts — strong buck numbers on the sage flats with high controlled-hunt success. Tags are drawn.
- →Glass the open valley floor and low foothills at first and last light
- →Use terrain folds and dry creek beds to close distance for a spot-and-stalk
- →Watch water sources and alfalfa edges near private ground in early season
Mule Deer
common opportunityDecent mule deer spread across foothills and high basins; success runs modest but bucks use the aspen and high sage pockets.
- →Hunt aspen stringers and sage benches at dawn
- →Push into high basins like Copper Basin as bucks summer high
- →Still-hunt timbered draws during midday and cold fronts
Rocky Mountain Elk
common qualityPart of the capped Pioneer Elk Zone (Units 36A, 49, 50), managed for quality with A/B tags by draw rather than general over-the-counter access.
- →Locate bugling bulls in the timbered basins and high drainages
- →Work the transition between Forest timber and BLM foothills
- →Be ready for steep, physical country away from roads
Moose
limited qualitySmall resident population in willow bottoms and high drainages; a coveted once-in-a-lifetime controlled tag with very high success.
- →Focus on willow-lined creek bottoms and beaver complexes
- →Glass north-facing timber pockets at dawn and dusk
Mountain Goat
limited trophyA few goats hold on the highest Pioneer crags; an extremely limited, prized controlled tag.
- →Glass cliff bands and alpine ledges near the Pioneer crest
- →Plan a physically demanding high-country pack hunt
Black Bear
limited opportunityBlack bears occur in the timbered mid-elevations but are lightly hunted and harvested here.
- →Glass avalanche chutes and green south slopes in spring
- →Check berry patches and aspen pockets in fall
Pro tips
- →Treat pronghorn as the marquee hunt — high success and good bucks reward glassing the open valley
- →For deer and elk, gain elevation into the high basins early, then follow game down as storms push them
- →Copper Basin and Sawmill Creek offer milder terrain for hunters who want to avoid the steepest ground
- →Respect the private ranch corridor along the Big Lost River — map public boundaries before hunting the bottoms
- →Carry chains and watch weather; Trail Creek Pass and high roads can snow shut quickly
Watch out for
- !Private ranchland along the Big Lost River valley floor — verify boundaries before crossing
- !Steep, high-elevation terrain with real altitude and exposure risk in the Pioneers
- !Rapid snow and cold closing mountain passes and high roads late season
- !Elk are capped-tag (drawn) — do not assume general/OTC access in this zone
Logistics
Mackay and Arco anchor the unit with fuel, lodging and basic supplies; Ketchum/Sun Valley over Trail Creek Pass offers full services. U.S. 93 is the spine along the Big Lost River, with Forest and BLM roads branching to trailheads. Cell service is spotty away from the highway.
Nearest towns: Mackay, Arco, Ketchum/Sun Valley, Challis
Seasons & regulations
This page carries no season dates or regulations. Get current rules from the official Idaho sources:
Research sources: IDFG Hunt Planner — Unit 50 · IDFG Hunt Planner — Pioneer Elk Zone (Units 36A, 49, 50) · Salmon-Challis National Forest — USFS
FAQ
- How big is Unit 50 in Idaho?
- Unit 50 (50 (Pioneer)) covers about 1,634 square miles, ranging from roughly 5,500 to 12,000 feet in elevation. Area is computed from the unit boundary polygon.
- How much public land is in Unit 50?
- Approximately 80% of the unit is public land. Primary managers: USFS — Salmon-Challis NF, USFS — Sawtooth NF, BLM, IDL. Always verify ownership boundaries on the ground.
- What species does the catalog list for Unit 50?
- Pronghorn, Mule Deer, Rocky Mountain Elk, Moose, Mountain Goat, Black Bear. For seasons, tags, and regulations, use the official Idaho agency resources linked on this page — this page carries no regulatory information.
Put Unit 50 on your map.
Boundary lines, public/private ownership, topo, and offline maps for this unit — in Baseline Maps, free for 14 days.